Surgical instrument with trigger control

ABSTRACT

A surgical device  10  with an ergonomic handle  12  and, an elongated tubular portion  18  extending from the ergonomic handle  12  to a functional end  22 . The elongated tubular portion  18  has a longitudinal axis  19 , and a finger actuator  16  is positioned substantially in line with this axis. Furthermore, the surgical device  10  may also include a rod  20  functionally disposed within the tubular portion  18  along the longitudinal axis  19 . The rod  20  may be coupled proximally to the finger actuator  16  and distally to the functional end  22 , such that bidirectional pressure applied by the user&#39;s finger to the finger actuator  16  along the longitudinal axis  19  manipulates the functional end  22  in a bidirectional manner in response to or in a common direction to the bidirectional pressure. The surgical device  10  may further comprise a ratcheting mechanism  24  to lock the finger actuator  16  in a fixed position, thus locking the functional end  22  in a fixed position. Additionally, the functional end  22  may be free to rotate around the longitudinal axis  19 , and the elongated tubular portion  18  may be detachable from the ergonomic handle  12.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to medical devices. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to trigger controlledsurgical instruments.

2. Description of Prior Art

Handles for surgical instruments have traditionally been based on aparadigm of design that is decades old, a design that was adopted tofacilitate their use in upper airway endoscopy. These instruments arebent such that their handles are as much as 90 degrees out of alignmentwith their functional ends. The original design was required to allow auser to have a direct line of vision down a sheath into the area wherethe surgery is performed. With the advent of fiber optics, therequirements for the bent handle design were eliminated. Surgeons todaymanipulate surgical instruments by means of a video screen, not a directline of vision down a sheath. Given this change in technology regardingthe visual aspects of surgery, it is surprising that the handles of amajority of surgical instruments have remained unchanged.

Surgical instruments with this bent-handle design can be troublesome touse. They require a user to hold their wrist awkwardly for long periodsof time, in a position that encourages the development of Carpal TunnelSyndrome and chronic joint stress. Many users have taken to holding theinstruments in a manner not consistent with their design in an attemptto alleviate the pain and fatigue of long procedures.

Additionally, the bent-handle design does not efficiently translateforce from the handle to the functional end of the instrument. Forceapplied to the handle of the instrument is translated to the functionalend to perform the desired action. If the handle is bent out of linewith the longitudinal axis of the functional end, a portion of theapplied force will be translated to movement of the instrument in adirection that is essentially perpendicular to this axis. Thisundesirable movement may be translated along the instrument to thefunctional end, thus compromising stability.

In addition to the inefficient translation of force from the handle tothe functional end of the instrument, the bent-handle design betterfacilitates surgeon use of the tool as a functional extension of a usershand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be described as a surgical device comprisingan ergonomic handle having a finger actuator configured to receive asingle finger of a user to control an attached, elongated tubularportion extending from the ergonomic handle. The elongated tubularportion may have a longitudinal axis, and the finger actuator may bepositioned substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of thetubular portion. Furthermore, the surgical device may also include a rodfunctionally disposed within the tubular portion along the longitudinalaxis. The rod may be coupled proximally to the finger actuator and maybe coupled distally to a functional end, such that bidirectionalpressure applied by the user's finger to the finger actuator along thelongitudinal axis manipulates the functional end in a bidirectionalmanner in response to or in a common direction to the bidirectionalpressure. The surgical device may further comprise a ratchetingmechanism to lock the finger actuator in a fixed position, thus lockingthe functional end in a fixed position. Additionally, the functional endmay be free to rotate around the longitudinal axis, and the elongatedtubular portion may be detachable from the ergonomic handle.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a surgical device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the surgical device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of examples of finger actuators inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a roticulator attachment in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a surgical device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of manipulating a surgical instrumentwith a single finger according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

The present invention may be embodied as a surgical device as shown inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The surgical device 10 may have an ergonomic handle12, shaped to conform to a user's hand 14 held in a relaxed functionalposition, thus reducing hand and wrist strain that ultimately leads toCarpal Tunnel Syndrome and chronic joint stress. The ergonomic handlemay be in the shape of a pistol grip, or any other shape that allows theuser's hand 14 to be held in a relaxed position. The surgical device mayalso include a finger actuator 16 configured to receive a single finger(ideally the index finger) of a user.

The surgical device 10 may further include an elongated tubular portion18 extending from the ergonomic handle 12, and having a longitudinalaxis 19. The finger actuator 16 may be positioned substantially in linewith the longitudinal axis 19 of the elongated tubular portion 18.Furthermore, a rod 20 may be functionally disposed within the tubularportion 18 along the longitudinal axis 19 that is coupled proximally tothe finger actuator 16 and may be coupled distally to a functional end22. The functional end may be coupled to any surgical end piece known toone skilled in the art, such as, but not limited to, a grasper,scissors, a blade, a laser or a needle holder. The alignment of theuser's finger, the elongated tubular portion 18, and the functional end22 along the same longitudinal axis 19 may allow the functional end 22to act more as a functional extension of the user's finger than previousdesigns. Additionally, bidirectional pressure applied by the user'sfinger to the finger actuator 16 along the longitudinal axis 19 willmanipulate the functional end 22 in a bidirectional manner. In otherwords, movement by the user's finger in one direction along thelongitudinal axis 19 will operate the functional end 22 in onedirection, while movement by the user's finger in the opposite directionalong the longitudinal axis 19 will operate the functional end 22 in theopposite direction.

The surgical device 10 may also include a ratcheting mechanism 24 tolock the finger actuator 16 in a fixed position, thus locking thefunctional end 22 in a fixed position. The ratcheting mechanism 24 maybe positioned near the user's thumb in any position convenient on thehandle (side, bottom, or top) for easy accessibility, and it may beoperated by pushing, pulling, sliding, or any other functional means ofactuation known to one skilled in the art.

It may be useful for the functional end 22 to be free to rotate aroundthe longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular portion 18. This can beaccomplished by means of a roticulator 26. The roticulator 26 may beattached to the ergonomic handle 12 by a rotateable connection 27. Therotatable connection 27 may be any connection known to one skilled inthe art that allows the roticulator 26 to be coupled to the ergonomichandle 12 and that allows rotation around the longitudinal axis 19. Asshown in FIG. 3, the roticulator 26 may be a generally disk-shapedstructure attached to the elongated tubular portion 18. The exampleembodiment in FIG. 3 shows a roticulator 26 with notches designed toallow easy rotation by the user's finger. The roticulator 26 may be ofany shape, however, that allows rotation by the user's finger. Thisallows the user to rotate the roticulator 26, which in turn rotates theelongated tubular portion 18 and the functional end 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, the finger actuator 16 may be configured in avariety of ways. These configurations should not be seen as limiting thenumber of ways that the finger actuator 16 may be constructed, but asexamples showing possible variations. Generally, they may consist of arod 28 with a finger receiving section 30 a,b,c,d to allow the user toslide the rod 28 along the longitudinal axis 19 of the elongate tubularportion 18. Configuration 30 b is deemed to be the preferred embodimentbecause the actuator 16 is fully symmetrical about axis 19. Inembodiments utilizing the ratcheting mechanism 24, ratcheting teeth 32may be disposed on one end of the rod 28 to engage the ratchetingmechanism 24.

As shown in FIG. 5, it may also be useful for the elongated tubularportion 18 to be detachable from the ergonomic handle 12. This wouldallow quick changes of instruments associated with the functional end22, and facilitate cleaning and autoclaving of the individual parts ofthe surgical device 10 to remove all biological matter after use. In oneexample embodiment this may be accomplished by a detachable connection34 between the elongated tubular portion 18 and the roticulator 26. Thisdetachable connection 34 may be by any detachment means known to oneskilled in the art, including, but not limited to, a threaded connectionor a ring lock connection.

As shown in FIG. 6, a portion of the ergonomic handle 12 that may besubstantially out of line with the longitudinal axis 19 can bemanipulated about a rotational axis 38 into a position that issubstantially in line with the longitudinal axis 19. As an example, thisrotation may be accomplished by a means for rotation located at therotational axis 38, such as a pin, screw, grommet, hinge, or other meansknow to one skilled in the art. Care must be taken to avoid interferencebetween the means for rotation and the finger actuator 16. As anexample, this may be accomplished by placing the rotation mean out ofline with the longitudinal axis of the finger actuator 16. It may alsobe accomplished by utilizing multiple rotational means attached to bothsides of the ergonomic handle 12 at the position shown for therotational axis 38 in FIG. 6 that do not extend through the ergonomichandle 12 to interfere with the finger actuator 16. The rotationalmanipulation reduces tangling that may occur between the ergonomichandle 12 and other cables and cords in the surgical area. Additionally,a portion of the ergonomic handle 12 that may be substantially out ofline with the longitudinal axis 19 can be removed, thus achieving thesame tangling reduction result.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method 40 of manipulating a surgicalinstrument with a single finger according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The first step 42 of the method 40 may includegrasping the surgical instrument with a hand of a user. Another step 44of the method 40 may include inserting a single finger (ideally theindex finger) of the user into a finger actuator of the surgicalinstrument. Yet another step 46 of the method 40 may include moving thesingle finger in a direction away from the hand, causing operation of afunctional end. The method 40 may additionally or alternatively includethe step 48 of moving the single finger in a direction toward the hand,causing operation of the functional end. Additionally, the method 40 mayinclude the optional step 50 of rotating the functional end with thesingle finger.

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements areillustrative of the application for the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention while the present invention has been shown in the drawings anddescribed above in connection with the exemplary embodiments(s) of theinvention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artthat numerous modifications can be made without departing from theprinciples and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.

1. A surgical device, comprising: a) an ergonomic handle having a fingeractuator configured to receive a single finger of a user; b) anelongated tubular portion extending from the ergonomic handle and havinga longitudinal axis, the finger actuator being positioned substantiallyin line with the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion; and c) a rodfunctionally disposed within the tubular portion along the longitudinalaxis, the rod being coupled proximally to the finger actuator andconfigured to be coupled distally to a functional end.
 2. A surgicaldevice as in claim 1, further comprising a functional end coupled to adistal end of the rod, such that bidirectional pressure applied by thesingle finger to the finger actuator along the longitudinal axismanipulates the functional end in a bidirectional manner in a commondirection to the bidirectional pressure.
 3. A surgical device as inclaim 2, further comprising a ratcheting mechanism to lock the fingeractuator in a fixed position, thus locking the functional end in a fixedposition.
 4. A surgical device as in claim 2, wherein the functional endis free to rotate around the longitudinal axis.
 5. A surgical device asin claim 1, wherein the elongated tubular portion is detachable from theergonomic handle.
 6. A surgical device as in claim 1, wherein theergonomic handle has a shape of a pistol grip.
 7. A surgical device asin claim 6, wherein a portion of the pistol grip that is substantiallyout of line with the longitudinal axis can be manipulated into aposition that is substantially in line with the longitudinal axis.
 8. Asurgical device as in claim 6, wherein a portion of the pistol grip thatis substantially out of line with the longitudinal axis is detachable.9. A surgical device as in claim 2, wherein the functional end isselected from the group consisting of a grasper, scissors, a blade, alaser and a needle holder.
 10. A surgical device as in claim 2, whereinthe functional end is a grasper.
 11. A surgical device as in claim 2,wherein the functional end is scissors.
 12. A surgical system operatedby a single finger, comprising: a) an ergonomic handle having a fingeractuator configured to receive a single finger of a user; b) anelongated tubular portion extending from the ergonomic handle and havinga longitudinal axis, the finger actuator being positioned substantiallyin line with the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion; and c) a rodfunctionally disposed within the tubular portion along the longitudinalaxis, the rod being coupled proximally to the finger actuator andcoupled distally to a functional end, such that bidirectional pressureapplied by the single finger to the finger actuator along thelongitudinal axis manipulates the functional end in a bidirectionalmanner in a common direction to the bidirectional pressure.
 13. Asurgical system as in claim 12, further comprising a ratchetingmechanism to lock the finger actuator in a fixed position, thus lockingthe functional end in a fixed position.
 14. A surgical system as inclaim 12, wherein the functional end is free to rotate around thelongitudinal axis.
 15. A surgical system as in claim 12, wherein theelongated tubular portion is detachable from the ergonomic handle.
 16. Asurgical system as in claim 12, wherein the functional end is selectedfrom the group consisting of a grasper, scissors, a blade, a laser and aneedle holder.
 17. A surgical system as in claim 12, wherein thefunctional end is a grasper.
 18. A surgical system as in claim 12,wherein the functional end is scissors.
 19. A method of manipulating asurgical instrument with a single finger, comprising the followingsteps: a) grasping the surgical instrument with a hand of a user; b)inserting the single finger of the user into a finger actuator of thesurgical instrument; c) moving the single finger in a direction awayfrom the hand, causing operation of a functional end; and d) moving thesingle finger in a direction toward the hand, causing operation of thefunctional end.
 20. A method of manipulating a surgical instrument witha single finger as in claim 19, further comprising the step of rotatingthe functional end with the single finger.